Daniel Edward Howard

Daniel Edward Howard, who led Liberia from 1912 to 1920, was the 16th president (4 August 1861– 9 July 1935). President Howard was chosen in 1911 and took office on January 1st, 1912. Although he wanted to support the Allies, whose colonial lands in Africa surrounding Liberia, he tried to keep the nation neutral as World War I broke out. He led the French to run a wireless station in the nation's capital, Monrovia, against objections from the Germans. In 1917, after the Germans deployed a submarine to assault the city and realized their protests had been fruitless, Howard was compelled to support the Allies and declare war on Germany despite his reluctance.

President Howard made an effort to keep the nation neutral when World War I started. He preferred to side with the Allies, whose colonial holdings in Africa encircled Liberia and whose superior naval might swiftly halted trade with Germany. The loss of customs revenue had a significant negative impact on the government's budget because Germany was Liberia's main trading partner. The embargo established by German submarines, which essentially prevented trade between Liberia and the Allies as well, reduced what little money was left. Since practically all of Liberia's income came from exports, the abrupt disappearance of customs earnings required Liberia to postpone repayment on the $1.7 million loan, which prompted President Daniel E. Howard to ask the Woodrow Wilson Administration for a $5 million loan. However, the loan request was rejected by the US Congress.